Purrfect Pals: My Choice

A Young Ichiro on one of his first days after being adopted from Purrfect Pals

While the short version of why Purrfect Pals is the hope that if I win, they’ll take back Ichiro, the nuanced version goes a little farther.

Purrfect Pals is the northwest’s largest cat only adoption organization and sanctuary. They were founded by Kathy Centala, a woman not unlike many of our readers. She started out originally as a cat boarder who took in some stray cats. We all know what happens when word gets out about that. Yeah. Way more cats than space. In the early 1990s she purchased five acres in rural Arlington, Washington where Purrfect Pals now provides comfortable sanctuary to hundreds of cats.

It’s a no kill shelter, but that doesn’t mean it overlooks cats with health issues. A special fund, call the Tipper Fund is set up to help kitties with major medical problems. For instance, Grainne came to Purrfect Pals as a kitten with a collapsed nasal passage. Surgery to correct this runs thousands of dollars. The Tipper Fund went to work and Grainne had her surgery.

Grainne O’Malley, one beneficiary of the Tipper fun.

In addition to the the Tipper Fund, Purrfect Pals has a special place for the cats they call Barn Hollow Cats. This is a sanctuary for feral cats that need a safe place. Some of these cats may be placed as barn or warehouse cats. They can do what comes naturally with a caregiver to look out for them, but they are not required to have more human interaction than they want.

There is also Leukemia land, for the Felv positive kitties and FIV land for those with FIV. There’s a special place for the litter box illiterates in the sanctuary as well.

Harle, one of our favorite cats!

Not a lot of people go to Arlington, so Purrfect Pals has partnered with pet stores, including PetCo and Petsmart, and small stores like Dooley’s Dog House (I know! a Dog House helping cats?!) to house adoptable cats off site. Volunteers come in daily to clean kennels and let the cats out to play. In the evening, more volunteers come by to clean again, offer more playtime and meet potential adopters. Any cat adopted at Purrfect Pals can be returned to the shelter for any reason. In the last few years, more and more cats are finding themselves back at the shelter due to job loss or other family hardship.

We’re working for Purrfect Pals because we believe that we need to start with our local community. The Woman has volunteered there and found the people kind, funny and willing to do just about anything for the cats. We hope you’ll find it in your heart to help our shelter win some very needed prizes.

Remember, a Vote For Chey, is a Vote for Purrfect Pals. Now may I recommend you head over to the Foster Kitten Cam?

What a wonderful and perfect choice for you, Chey. All of the shelters us cat-idates have chosen are amazing organizations that make a difference in the lives of cats in need every single day. They are all winners.

For once, I’m glad I don’t get to vote. It’s going to be a really hard decision for all the readers.

That was a great tribute, Chey, and Purrfect Pals sounds like such a wonderful and caring place. I love the versatility of what they offer for cats.

I am humbled more than words can express as to the significance of this contest and I am so proud of all of the Cat-idates who are participating. All the shelters are so worthy and it is such a privilege to be able to give them the spotlight they deserve.

How wonderful to have a place that helps special needs kitties and feral kitties all in one place. I would love to be a volunteer there if I lived closer. Best of luck in winning the ruler of the world contest.

Thanks for sharing about your campaign shelter choice. They sound wonderful. What I love about participating in this campaign is by shedding light on various shelters, readers can be inspired to get involved in their own way and make a difference in the lives of cats.

That sounds like such terrific shelter. We of course we especially like it because they give feral cats a chance to have a good life. That is so great. I totally agree with Cathy, what a shame we all only get one vote. It really doesn’t seem fair. Sure wish there was some way the prize could be split up between the shelters. But thanks for this great info about this shelter. It sure sounds great.

Oh my. I see they are having a black cat gala in October. I once chaired a black cat gala! This is getting harder and harder to decide. We have an affinity for black cats and feral cats…I think it will come down to flipping a coin! Here’s to overturning misconceptions about black cats, feral cats and cat ladies!

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